Washing machine



Oct. 20, 1953 K. CLARK 2,655,804

WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l E 1.. INVENTOR.

Oct. 20, 1953 K. CLARK 2,655,804

WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1947 s sheets-sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Oct. 20, 1953 K CLARK 2,655,804

WASHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 WASHING MACHINE Kendall Clark, Oakwood, Ohio, assigner to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporationof Delaware Application December 9, 1947,-Serial No. 790,494

(Cl. (iS-'23) 7 Claims.

'This invention relates to Washing machines, and particularly to a washing machine of the completely automatic type in which the clothes are washed, rinsed and wet-dried.

The machine embodies a tub wherein a basket is supported for a wobbling operation by a conic crank; and by a direct drive shaft for a spinning operation with the conic crank released and the basket freely pivoted on a universal joint located on the vertical axis. The conic crank mechanism is mounted on the upper end of a vertical drive shaft having a pulley on the lower end which is belt-driven by a motor. A second shaft, which is tubular in form, surrounds the vertical drive shaft. A brakeand clutch are associated with the vertical drive shaft and the tubular shaft for holding the tubular shaft and basket stationary While ythe crank is operated by the vertical drive shaft and for clutching the vertical drive shaft to the tubular or driven shaft when the crank is disengaged for spinning the basket. The concentric tubular shaft and vertical drive shaft are encased Within a tubular housing which is mounted at the bottom in rubber or other resilient material to permit the entire housing, drive mechanism and basket to tilt relative to the base. rFhe bottom of the basket is supported by an inverted cup which is fastened to the top of the conic crank stem. The crank stem extends downwardly from the inverted cup with the upper end secured to a rubber sealing element which functions as a universal joint to pemit the conic crank stem to be gyrated while restraining the lccnic crank stem from rotating so that the basket will be wobbled or progressively tilted. W ith the universal support of the basket at the top of the driving mechanism in combination with the resilient mounting of the housing on the base, the basket may be spun with minimum precession. Any ci-center load will cause the center of the basket to shift laterally from the axis of the spin by an amount sufficient to permit the basket and vthe unbalanced load to spin about their mutual center of gravity. A-plurality of snubbing shoes are provided for frictionally engaging a plate on the housing with a predetermined pressure to provide a resistance to dampen the sway of the housing. A motor is mounted with its axis vertically disposed and shafts extending from each end, the lower shaft having a pulley for driving the belt which drives the pulley on the operating mechanism, and the upper shaft drives the pump impeller. The lint trap, the drain and recirculating valve, and the pump housing are mounted above the motor. The drain and recirculating valves are operated in unison so that when one is closed the other is open for either recirculating the water from the tub to the basket or for directing the water todrain. The solenoid mechanism employed for operating the valves also operates a lever arm which connects and disconnects the brake and the clutch hereinabove referred to. A vacuum breaker is employed in the fresh water intake and the ihot and cold water valve is provided with a control knob similar to the control knob on the electrically operated control switch.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a Washing machine which automatically operates through the washing, rinsing and drying cycles which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture; to construct a fully automatic washing machine from a maximum number of stampings and a minimum number of machine parts; to provide a washing machine having a basket which is supported against rotation while progressively tilted or wobbled through a small angle for washing and which is free to have its axis assume a free position during the spinning operation for extracting the water from the washed fabrics; to provide a washing machine with a motor having a pulley on the lower end for driving the mechanism of the machine and which directly supports the pump on the upper end along with `the water circulating and drain valves and the lint catching mechanism to. form a complete unit.

Other objects and features vof novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become Happarent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of a washing machine which automatically washes, rinses and wet-dries fabrics embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a broken enlarged view of the supporting and driving mechanism shown in washing position;

Fig. 6 is a broken view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 5 When in dryingposition, and

Fig. '7 is a View of a wiring diagram illustrating the electric circuit employed in the machine.

The washing machine comprises a tub lil having a lower central opening the edge of which is reversely flanged at l2 to provide an annular channel, A second opening I3 is provided in the bottom of the tub I5, with the edges flanged downwardly at Id to provide a drain opening. The tub is open at the top with the rim offset inwardly at i5 and further flanged inwardly at i5 to form a support for an annular sealing element I7 which seals the top closure I8 to the top of the tub when the flange I9 thereof extends down over the oifset portion l5 so as to have the flange substantially aligned with the peripheral wall 2| of the tub.

The top closure I8 of the'tub is provided with a central opening having about the edge thereof a shouldered flange 22 which is reversely bent at the bottom at 23. glass lor which may be a stamping or molded fromy plastics or other material, rests upon the shouldered flange 22. The door is secured to the top cover I8 by a hinge 25 and a recess 26 is provided therein diametrically across from the hinge over which a handle 27 extends. An annular rubber sealing element 28 is supported by the resilience of the rubber around the edge flange 29 of the door for sealing the door to the shouldered flange 22.

Four legs, 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are secured to the top of the hub by bolts or other suitable means not herein shown), and extend downwardly to the floor having adjacent the ends a web for receiving tubular outriggers 36 which are secured thereto by bolts 37 and by adjustable bolts 33, the latter of which have a floor-engaging pad 39 thereon for the purpose of leveling the ma- A door 24, made of molded chine after installation. The four tubular outriggers 35 are welded to the outer flange lll of a base stamping 52. Inwardly of the flange, the stamping is provided with a downwardly directed shouldered seat 153 and inwardly thereof with a second downwardly disposed shouldered seat dfi.

An .element of resilient material is supported in the shouldered seat 44 of the stamping and secured therein by a Washerlike plate 45 which is secured to the shouldered seat 43 by a plurality of bolts 57.

A housing d8 of the operating mechanism comprises a lower tube i9 having an outwardly directed flange 5| at the bottom which is secured by bolts 52 to a bottom casting 53. The flanges 5| and that on the casting 53 extend into a slot 5s in the resilient element 45 to provide a resilient universal mounting for the housing 48 and the operating and supporting mechanism contained therein. The casting 53 supports a bearing 55, herein illustrated as of the ball type, for supporting a driven element 55 for rotation about a vertical axis. An annular washer 57 is secured to the bottom of the casting by screws 58 for retaining the bearing 55 thereon. A pulley 59 is secured to the end of the driven element 55 by a nut 5|, the main body portion 62 of the pulley being oset upwardly so that the peripheral V edge 53 thereof is substantially aligned with the bearing 55.

A sealing element 54 is disposed about the driven element 55 for providing a seal thereabout. rihe sealing element embodies a pair of members and SS which are free to rotate relative to each other while providing a seal through their engaging surfaces which are urged toward each other with a predetermined pressure by a spring 67 disposed about a resilient bellowslike sealing element 55. The upper element 65 carries an 0- ring 69 which seals the top of the element to the driven shaft 55. The shaft 56 is provided with a pair of diametrioally projecting arms 7| on which rollers 72 are mounted. The rollers operate in a slot 73 in an inverted cup element 7d. The rollers permit the vertical shifting of the cup relative to the rollers with a minimum amount of friction, thereby requiring a minimum amount of applied force to change from one cycle of operation to another.

The cup is secured to the end of a tubular drive shaft 75 by a nut 75 secured thereto by a locking washer 77. A stem 78 projects upwardly on the axis of the driven shaft 55 in a position to abut against a spring 79 mounted within the tubular drive shaft 75. The upper end of the spring abuts against a washer 8| which engages a pin 82 extending through the shaft 75. A teat 83 on the end of the stem 78 projects within the lower end of the spring, which end abuts against a head 8s on the upper end of the stem 78, the outer surface of which is of arcuate shape to have a line Contact with the inner surface ofthe shaft 75.

The collar 7i] on the lower end of the shaft 75 has a thrust plate 85 disposed thereabout on a thrust bearing 86, resting on a plate 87 disposed adjacent to the bottom of the cup 74. A lever 83 has a pair of spaced fingers 39 provided with contact tips 9| which span the shaft 75 and rest upon the thrust plate 85. A series of clutch plates S3 have inwardly projecting fingers which extend within slots 9|) extending upwardly from the end of the tubular driven shaft 32, and a second series of plates 9i have outwardly projecting fingers which project into slots in a cupshaped element 95 welded to the upper end of the housing t9. A plate 97 is carried by the bottom of the tubular shaft 92, having arcuate slots near a central aperture through which the wall of the driven shaft 92 between the slots 5@ thereof projects. The plate S7 is urged upwardly to provide engagement between the two series of plates 93 and Sli by a conical spring SB which is supported on the bottom of the tubular shaft 92 by a snap ring 95.

The tubular shaft 92 is recessed at 0| and carries longitudinally split bearings |02 and |03 having projections it which extend into the diametrically disposed apertures |05 in the tubue lar shaft 75. The bear-ing elements |52 and |33 rotate and reciprocate with the driving shaft 75 on the inner surface of the recessed portion |2| of the tubular shaft. A sleeve |55 is welded or otherwise secured to the cup-shaped element 55 about the tubular driven shaft 92 to form the upper part of the housing on which a plate |67 is welded or otherwise secured. A casting |58 is Welded to the top of the plate |87 located thereon by ngers I0 stamped from the plate. The casting supports a ball bearing |09 secured against longitudinal movement on the shaft 32 by a pair of snap rings and 2. A sealing,r element I3 seals the upper end of the shaft 92 to the inner surface of the casting |53, the sealing element being similar to the seal 64 at the lower end of the driving mechanism. A sleeve bearing Mel is provided between the upper end of the driving tubular shaft 75 and the driven shaft 92.

The upper end of the shaft 92 is hanged outwardly at l5 and is welded or otherwise secured to a cup-shaped member ||6. The cup-shaped member H5 has an inner conical clutch surface I I1 which is matable with the outer cup .surface |19 on a driven cup |2| on theupper Vendofthe driving shaft 15. A coneclutch isA formed between the two surfaces I|1 and ||9 when kthe shaft 15 is in lowered position for driving from the Acentral shaft through the outer shaft 92 to drive the basketin rotation. A Vsleeve |22 has a flange |23 at its lower end which is secured by bolts v|24 to a flange |25 ron the cup with a sealing gasket |23 therebetween. A universal element |21 provides universal movement to the basket and is secured to the upper end of the sleeve |22 by screws |28. The universal element |21 coniprises an outer collar |29 and an innercollar |-3I joined by a resilient web |32 which is made'of rubber or like material and which is bonded to the sleeves. The :sleeves-are provided with apertures |33 into which the material of the web |32 may project to increase the resistance to rupture due to the torsional strains between the bonded surfaces.

A crank stem |34 is secured to an inverted cuplike element |35 after the sleeve I3! has been placed over the end thereof. The sleeve has notches |35l in the end which project over the ends of a pin |31 extending through the stem |35. A nut |38 secures vthe inverted cuplike element |35 on the upper end of the stem. A basket |39 is supported on a flange |4I on the bottom of the inverted cup element |35, being secured thereto by a plurality of bolts |42 which draw the inner flange |43 of the basket downwardly against a sealing gasket |44 and the flange |4I to form a water-tight joint. An inverted cup |45 is secured over the inverted cup |35 to the top of the stem |311 by a screw |46. The entire housing, that is to say, the interior of the sleeve 48, sleeve |95, cup ||0 and the lower portion of the sleeve |22, is filled with lubricating oil through the stem |34, the sleeve |22 or through an aperture |41 in the resilient material |32 which is of sufhcient size to permit a probe to be inserted therein to ascertain the height of the oil and which is closed by a plug |48. It is to be understood that a high and low plug could be employed in the sleeve |22 as is conventional practice.

A exible sealing element |49, of rubber or like composition, is sealed to the bottom of the tub by a ring |5| which forces the annular flange at the bottoni of the element in the channel of the annular ange I2. A sealing ring |52 seals the inner flange of the element |49 to the casting |03 on the upper end of the housing.

The lower end of the stem |34 is provided with a mushroom head |53 having a shaft |54 rotatable within a bearing sleeve |55 and operating against a thrust bearing |56. The shaft |56 has a stem |51 on its upper end on which a sleeve |58 is supported. Apertures |59 extend through the bearing sleeve |55 and the sleeve |53 in which setscrews |6| are threaded for retaining the mushroom head |53 on the end of the stem |34. A washer |62 is secured to the end of the stem |51 by suitable means, herein illustrated by peening over the end to form the head |03. Apern tures |64 may be provided through the stem |34 and bearing sleeve |55 to provide passageways for lubricating the shaft |54.

aat surface |69 toform a driving D-shaped extension yhaving a threaded stud portion |12. :on the .top thereof. The cup |2I and forging |95 are secured by a nut I1`| to the threadedstud portion |12 in driving relation therewith. An aperture |13 is Aprovided through the plug |61 to permit the liquid within the driving shaft 15 to readily flow therethrough when the shaft 15 is moved longitudinally. The upper end of the threaded studportion |12 is sloped at |14 to force the stem |34 to deect and to contact the forging |55 when the cup is raised. The forging is provided with a recess |15 `the shape of the mushroom head |53 which projects therein when the cup is raised in driving relation therewith. To assure the connection of the mushroom head with the recess |15, a recess |19 .spirals outwardly from the recess |15 tothe wall of the cup so that should the end project within the region of the spiral it will be directed into the recess |15 during the first partial revolution of the cup relative thereto.

The basket |39 has a bottom portion |11, the central portion l|10 of which is of inwardly projecting conical form terminating in a ange |43 about a central opening which bolts upon the nange |4I of the cup-shaped element |35. An inwardly projecting top portion IBI of the basket is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the portion |11 and is provided with spaced offset areas |32 which engage the portion |11 and are welded thereto, This provides openings |83 around the top of the bottom portion |11 from which the water maybe expelled during the spinning operation. A series of vertically disposed apertures |84 are provided in the wall of the bottom portion |11 and several drain holes |95 are located adjacent to the central conical portion |18. The top of the top portion |8| has a central opening for the reception of the fabrics to be wtassld, the inner edge being reversely hanged a A supporting plate |81 is secured to the .base plate 4,2 by bolts |88 and is braced to the tub vi0 by an element |89 secured to a bracket I9! on the tub bottom by a bolt |92. Several brackets 59| are provided on the bottom of the tub from which spring arms |93 project having snubbing shoes |94 secured thereto for engaging the under surface of the plate |01. The snubbing shoes |94, acting `against the plate |01, dampen out any tendency of the supporting housing and drive mechanism to produce a sway thereto as the speed of rotation of the basket is built up from zero to maximum. The input energy which would produce this harmonic build-up of sway is taken out by the snubbing action of the shoes |94 on the plate |01 as the surfaces ||1 and ||9 slip relative to each other as the spinning speed of the basket is built up. When the speed builds up to and beyond the natural frequency of the system, which will be somewhere between the zero and maximum speed,this tendency to produce an increasing sway to the housing and basket on the resilient element '35 .will no longer exist and the basket and housing will assume a normal spinning position depending upon the distribution of the clothes within the basket. Since neither the plate nor the shoes are a portion of .the operating part of the system, no direct energy from the motor to the basket is being absorbed thereby. It is only the energy dissipated between the mating surface of the cone clutch during the time of slippage which is being dampened out bythe snubbing shoes.

A thermostatically controlled fresh water valve |95 is mounted on the plate IS'I'QhaVi'n'g intake ports |95 and |97 to which hoses are connected from fresh hot and cold water sources. A drain hose |98 is also supported by the plate I2?, being connected to the outlet |99 of the water pump 26|. A motor supporting bracket 292 is also mounted on the base 22 for supporting a motor 263 with its axis in a vertical position. On the bottom end of the motor shaft 29s, a pulley 255 is keyed or otherwise supported in driving relation, having the V groove thereof aligned with the V groove 63 of the pulley 52 secured to the drive shaft 56. A belt 225 connects the pulleys 295 and 59 in driving relation.

The upper end of the shaft 204 supports the pump vane 22? while the motor housing supports the drain valve and housing assembly 208. The vane 2li? has a hollow'interior 299 in which a sealing element 2|! is mounted., the sealing element being the same as the sealing element H3 above referred to which positively seals the shaft to the housing 2|2 of the pump. While it is not contemplated that any leak can occur through the sealing element 2l i, for precautional measures shrouds 2li? and 212 are mounted on the motor to prevent any water which may leak by the shaft from damaging the motor windings. The pump housing is provided with two valve openings 2|5 and 2|@ in which valves 2i? and 2 i8 are mounted on stems 2|9 and 22|, respectively. The stems are secured to a U-shaped operating lever 222 having a bracket 22S thereon connected to an operating rod 22d. The operatingrod is pivoted to a lever 225 which is pivoted to a bracket 226 on the motor supporting bracket 262. rIhe end of the lever 225 is secured to the end of an armature 226 operating within a solenoid 22'? which is supported on the motor supporting bracket 232.

The shift lever 23 of the operating mechanism passes through a bushing 22B which is welded or otherwise secured to the tubular portion 49 of the operating mechanism housing. A resilient bellowslike sealing element 229 encompasses the lever 58 and the bushing 22B to seal the area about the lever against the passage of a fluid. A bracket 25B is mounted on the tubular portion l5 of the housing d3, having pivcted thereon a bell crank 23|, the extending arm 232 of which is connected by a spring 233 to the end of the armature 225. A roller 232 on the bell crank 23| engages a plane face 235 of the lever 88 and causes it to rock on the pivot 236 supported by the bushing 228. When the solenoid is operated, both of the valves 2|? and 2 |8 are shifted, one to closed and one to open position, and the lever 88 is rocked to operate the driving mechanism to one or the other position.

A second outlet port 23? is provided on the pump housing 258 for connection to a recirculating nozzle 238, illustrated in Fig. 3. A delivery port 239 on the thermostatically controlled hot and cold water valve is connected by a conduit 22| to a nozzle 2&2 which has an antisiphon device 243 interposed in the circuit. The antisiphon device embodies a receptacle 222 having opposite walls containing an opening 225 and the adjacent walls connected to the intake port 245 and the flared end 2li? of the nozzle 242. Water under pressure delivered from the port 246 is directed into the flared end Eel of the nozzle and is thereby delivered into the tub H3. Any drainage which may occur into the receptacle 25j-s is directed into the tube through the drain tube 22B. The antisiphon device prevents any wash water, soap suds contacts thereon operated by cams.

and the like from draining back into the delivery conduit should a suction condition occur therein.

A pair of depending brackets 21l9 extends downwardly from the front portion of the tub on which a cover plate 25| is hinged to drop downwardly to permit a lint -drawer 252 to be removed forwardly of the machine. The lint drawer is secured in sealed position by a U-shaped element 253, having its end pivoted on brackets 252 supported on the side of the housing 228. The upper end of the housing is provided with a seal 255 which engages the bottom of the tub about the drain opening i3 and seals the housing thereto. A locking element 266 is pivoted on the front end of the door on the pivot 25? and is provided with a hook 258 at the bottom which engages the web of the element 253. When the hook 258 is pivoted downwardly, the element 253 is released from the hook 258, permitting the drawer to be withdrawn. The drawer has a central outlet opening 252 over which a semispherical drain screen 26| is disposed. The ledge 262 provided on the inside of the drain screen outwardly of the drain opening 252 catches the lint which passes through the drain screen 26| due to the centrifugal action of the water beneath the screen. This lint is removed periodically through the removal of the drawer from the housing in the manner described above. A sealing element 263 is provided about the front edge oi the drawer for sealing the drawer in closed position. It will be noted that the valves 2|? and 2|8 open toward the `drain outlet so that any string, pieces of cloth and the like which pass through the pump to drain or through the recirculation system cannot accumulate about the valve or valve stems which are disposed out of the path of flow of the water.

The four legs on the tub are utilized for housing the fresh water and recirculating nozzles, the control switch for operating the machine through its wash, rinse and wet-dry cycles and the mechanism for adjusting the hot and cold water valve. Tihe leg 3| houses the control switch and has on the top thereof the control knob 255 which is adjusted to set up the operating cycle and advanced by a motor in the switch. The motor and switch are of conventional form, the one employed with the herein described machine having three rEhe leg 34 has a dial 25e on the top thereof connected to mechanism for adjusting the thermostatically operated intake valve |95. The leg 33 has conduits therein which are connected to the nozzles 232 and 242, respectively. It is to be understood that one 0r the other of the nozzles may be placed in leg 33, although in the arrangement herein illustrated the leg 33 has no mechanism therein.

Panels 26'! may be secured between the legs to form a completely enclosed cabinet which can be sold as a deluxe model. For the ordinary model with the panels Ztl eliminated, a trim band 253 of chromium or the like may be applied to the bottom of the tub. In such an arrangement, a U-shaped closure panel 259 is applied about the motor and drive mechanism secured to the supporting plate itl by screws 27|.

Referring to Fig. 4, the hinge for supporting the glass cover 2li embodies a wing 212 secured by a pivot 273 to a wing 214 which is secured to the cover. The wing 214 and a plate 275 have projections forming a stop arm, the Wing and plate being secured to the cover by a pair of bolts 215. An element 2'|'| is then snapped over the hinge to provide a cover therefor. A rubber bumper 278 may be provided on the end of the stop arm which strikes a stop plate 219 secured to the inside of the top element I8 by bolts 28! which secure the wing 212: to the flange 232 on the top cover. The pocket 23 in the glass cover is preferably provided with a hole 283 for venting the inside of the tub. when the door 24 is sealed thereon to permit air to pass into or from the tub when the water passes t drain or is introduced into the tub. The glass cover plate 24 is provided with ve openings which are molded therein, two for the bolts of the handle 21, two for the bolts of the hinge and one inthe pocket 2.6. It will be noted further that a lip 232 is provided around the outer lower edge of the cover to project within a recess 285 in the rubber sealing element'28 for retaining the sealing element on the peripheral edge thereof. From Fig. 3 it will be noted that rubber grommets 283 are. provided around the nozzles for sealing the nozzles tothe top element I8! of thetub.

Referring to Fig. '1, a wiring diagram is illustrated comprising a main circuit composedv of conductors 29! and 232 in the former of which a main control switch 293 is disposed. This is the switch referred to hereinabove to which the indicating knob 255 is secured. The conductor 232 has a switch 234 in series therein which, as illustrated in Fig. l, has an actuating arm 235 carrying a roller 293 disposed in the path of sway of the basket 33. the spinning operation for disconnecting'the entire electric circuit if, for some reason, thesway shouldbecome so great as to move out of a permissible area. rof spinning.

A circuit 231 connects the motor 233 across the conductors 23! and 232. A circuit 293 connects a motor 233, which drives the main control switch 293, across the conductors 29.! and 232 of the main circuit. A circuit 33| is connected to the conductor 29! and'to a single pole double throw switch 302. A circuit 303 from one pole ofthe switch 332 is connected to a single pole double throw switch 333. One pole cf this switch is connected by a circuit 335 to the hot water solenoid 336 of the fresh water solenoid valve E35 and to the conductor 292. A circuit 331 from the other pole of the switch 322 connectsthe mixed water solenoid 333 of the fresh water solenoid valve |35 to the circuit 292. A circuit 333 connects the other pole of the switch 323 to the Circuit 301 ahead of the solenoid 308.

A circuit 3H is connected through aswitch 312 to the solenoid 221 and through a cover safety switch 313 to the circuit 232 from the circuit 29|. This switch is illustrated in Fig. 4 as having a plunger 3M which is moved inwardly t0 on position when the cover 23 is in closed position and which moves to open circuit position when the cover is open to deenergize the solenoid 221 and shift the basket operation from spinning to wobbling as a safety feature. If the cover is closed when the control switch 233 is set for spinning operation, the shifting of the contacts in the switch 313 to on position energizes the solenoid 221 and the basket shifts into spinning operation.

The main switch 233 is provided with three contacts and a series of cams which' operate the contacts to open and closed positions. It will be noted that it is only necessary to shift the switch or contacts SI2 of the switch 293 fromclosed to open position to change the operation of the basket from spinning to wobbling and at the same time to change the position of the valves 2|1 and 2|8 from drain to recirculating position. The contacts of the switch 293, illustrated as This switch is available during 1) switches 302 and 304, controls the introduction of the fresh water into the tub through the operation of the specific cams employed for movement into engagement therewith. This main valve control switch and solenoid operated valve,

being of the-conventional form, are not illustrated 4 herein in detail.

When operating; the machine, the fabrics to be washedv are placed within the basket 539. The controlknobA 225 is then moved from off position to wash position, at which time water from the thermostatically operated valve 195, which is a constantiiow valve, will beintroduced through the nozzle 233'into the basket. At the same time the motor 233 is energized and the solenoid 221 remains de-energized, with the valves 2i? and 248 in the position illustrated in Fig. l. This is the position in which the water will be recirculated from theY tub through the nozzle 2132 into the basket 239. from which it will drain into the tub and continue by recirculation. The water will be admitted to the tub for two minutes and'willll substantially to the line 281, after which the supply is shut off. The operation of the motor drives the driving shaft 15 with thebrake clutch 33 engaged to prevent the driven shaft 32 from operating. This prevents the basket from rotating while the crank stem |34 has the mushroom head 153 driven'in rotation by the cup 12H. The mushroom head rotates within the endof the stem so as to eliminate wear in the pocket |15 of the forging E35 in which the head rests during thewashingoperation, This causes the basket to wobble'and theclothes to be agitated in thepiesenceof a predetermined amount of water within the basket provided by the recirculating system. The bottom of the basket may be provided with vanes 238 which cause' a progression of the clothes within the bottom during the washing operation.

After the passage of a sufficient amount of time, approximately ten minutes, the solenoid 221 is actuated to tilt the lever 33 in a. clockwise direction, moving the shaft 15' downwardly to cause the cone surfaces H1 and H9 to engage and the brake clutch 33- to be released to permit the' shaft 32 to bek driven with' the driving shaft 15. The end of the bearing |03 on the driving shaft 15 strikes the portion 283 of the plate 31 between the shafts 15 and 32 and relieves the series of plates 33 and 32 from thepressure ofthe spring 33. This downward movementV ofthe shaft 15releases the crank stem |32 to permit the stem to assume a vertical position during the spinning of the basketwhich now occurs. The solenoid actuationA also shifts the valves 241v and 2I8 to close the former and open the latter so that the water may flow from the tub into the drain. Thereafter, toprovide for the rinsing of thevclothes, fresh water is `delivered into the basket through the nozzle 233 for one minute, after which the solenoid 221 is shifted to. interrupt the spinning operation and tc again wobble the basket asin a washing operation while' the water is recirculated. After twomnutes, the solenoid 221 is again actuated tc spin the basket and to drain the water fromthe tub. This cycle is again repeated, spinning the basket for one minute while fresh water is introduced into the basket and then. thebasket is wobbled while the waterv is recirculated for a period of' two minutes. Thereafter the basket is spun for a period'of approximately two lminutes to `extract the greater part of the water from the clothes and wobbled for one minuteY to redistribute the clothes-inthe basket.

The basket `is operated for approximately 500 R. P. M. in the washing, rinsing and drying cycles, although a greater or less speed may be employed. It was found at this speed that approximately one -pound of water remained in each pound of clothes after the extracting operation. It will be noted that the entire operating mechanism and basket are supported in the resilient element 45 so that the entire mechanism is free to tilt, and further, that the basket is supported on the rubber web l 21 which permits it to assume a tilt to a desired spinning position depending upon the distribution of the fabrics within the basket. The supporting housing and driving mechanism may tilt out of a vertical position to offset lany unbalanced load within the basket l 39 yas the axis of the basket i-s free to assume a vertical position or a tilted position relative to the `vertical to be at an angle to the axis of the driving mechanism and supporting housing. When the main control switch 293 reaches its off position, the electric circuit is entirely disconnected, the solenoid 221 de-energizes and the operating mechanism is then in a position to begin another cycle of operation when the knob '2&5 is shifted to on position. It is to be understood that the tension in the spring 19, compressed during the downward movement of the shaft 15 by the lever 8B, is available upon the release of the solenoid to move the shaft 15 upwardly to enga-ge the ycrank cup l 2| with the crank stem i3d and move the bearing |03 out of engagement with the portion 289 of the plate 91 to permit the spring 98 to engage the ser-ies of clutch plates 93 and 94. It is to be understood that a similar series of plates 93 and 94 may be substituted for the cone clutch provided by the engaging surfaces l I1 and l I9 to provide a more positive drive during the spinning operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine, a tub, means for supporting said tub, a drive mechanism projecting upwardly through said tub mounted for resilient movement at the base and embodying a central vand a tubular shaft, a basket within said tub, a crank stem extending from the bottom of said basket, a resilient sealing and universal element securing said stem to the tubular shaft, crank means secured to the central shaft for operating said stem when said crank means is moved upwardly into engagement therewith for wobbling the basket by flexing said resilient material forming the universal element, means for raising and lowering said central shaft, and means for connecting said central shaft to said tubular shaft when the central shaft is moved downwardly from engagement with said stem for rotating said tubular shaft and basket.

2. The combination in a washing machine, of a tub, a base for said tub, a basket yin said tub, a tubular shaft having at the top a resilient element, a stem on the basket passing through said resilient element for supporting said basket, ya central shaft within said tubular element having a cup on the upper end en-gageable with the end of the stem, a housing encasing said tubular shaft, resilient means for mounting said housing at the bottom to the base of the tub, drive means for said central shaft comprising a stem having a shaft disposed normal thereto provided with a pair of rollers, 4a cup on the central shaft having a slot in which said rollers operate, brake means for engaging said tubular shaft when said central shaft is operating when in raised position, means for raising and lowering said central shaft,

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and means for disengaging said brake means and clutching said central shaft to said tubular shaft when said central shaft is moved downwardly.

3. The combination in a washing machine, of a tub, a base for said tub, a basket in said tub, a tubular shaft having at the top a resil-ient element, a stem on the basket passing through said resilient element for supporting said basket, a central shaft within said tubular element having a cup on the upper end engageable with the end of the stern, a housing encasing said tubular shaft, resilient means for mounting said housing at the bottom to the base of the tub, drive means for said central shaft comprising a stem havin-g a shaft disposed normal thereto provided with a pair of rollers, a cup on the central shaft having a slot in which said rollers operate, brake means for engaging said tubular shaft when said central shaft is operating when in raised position, means for disengaging said brake means and clutching said central shaft to said tubular shaft when said central shaft is moved downwardly, means for raising and lowering said central shaft, an'd a solenoid for operating said raising and lowering means.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, means for supporting the tub, `drive mechanism beneath said tub embodying a shaft, a basket within said tub, a downwardly projecting stem on the bottom of said basket, a rotatable support about said shaft, a resilient element for securing said stem to said rotatable support, :crank means on said shaft engageable in one position with the end of the stem for wobbling the basket through the flexing of said resilient element, and means for retaining the -basket and rotatable support against rotation when the basket is being wobbled.

5. In a washing machine, a tub, means for supporting the tub, 'drive mechanism beneath said tub embodying a shaft, a basket within said tub, a downwardly projecting stem on the bottom of said basket, a rotatable support about said shaft, a resilient element for securing said stem to said rotatable support, crank means on said shaft engageable in one position with the end of the stem for wobbling the basket through the flexing of said resilient element, brake means for restraining the basket and rotatable support against rotation, and means for moving said shaft downwardly for disconnecting said crank means from said stem and connecting the shaft to said rotatable support for driving said basket in rotation, with the basket free to assume a sub-- stantially horizontal position.

6. In a washing machine, a tub, means for supporting the tub, drive mechanism beneath said tub including a shaft, a basket within said tub having a downwardly projecting stem on the bottom, a resilient element for mounting said stem on a rotatable support, crank means engaging the end of the stem for wobbiing the basket through the flexing of said resilient element, brake means for restraining the basket and rotatable support against rotation, means for movi 13 accelerated up to and beyond its critical speed in rotation.

7. In a washing machine, a tub, means for supporting the tub, drive mechanism beneath said tub including a shaft, a basket within said tub having a downwardly projecting stem on the bottom, a resilient element for mounting said stem on a rotatable support, crank means engaging the end of the stem for wobbling the basket through the flexing of said resilient element, brake means for restraining the basket and rotatable support against rotation, means for moving said shaft downwardly for disconnecting said crank means from said stem and connecting the shaft to said rotatable support for driving said basket in rotation, with the basket free to assume a substantially horizontal position, a housing encompassing said rotatable support, resilient means engaging the base of said housing permitting it to tilt relative to the tub, snubbing means engaging said housing for preventing undue precession of the basket when being accelerated up to and beyond its critical speed in rotation, and means for interrupting the spinning operation of the basket when the procession exceeds a predetermined amount.

KENDALL CLARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,965,379 Jewell July 3, 1934 2,033,146 Motycka Mar. 10, 1936 2,137,540 Motycka Nov. 22, 1938 2,250,291 Boosey July 22, 1941 2,250,974 Stoddard July 29, 1941 2,268,204 Dunham Dec. 30, 1941 2,303,578 Porter Dec. 1, 1942 2,314,673 Walker Mar. 23, 1943 2,350,218 De Remer May 30, 1944 2,355,455 McPhilomy Aug. 8, 1944 2,372,769 De Remer Apr. 3, 1945 2,372,770 De Remer Apr. 3, 1945 2,417,908 Bowen Mar. 25, 1947 2,454,112 Woodson Nov. 16, 1948 2,498,179 oliver Feb. 21, 1950 

